LX 570 Needing Front Brakes at 15k???
- Thread starter TG1
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Are you taking your LX to the track?
While fairly unlikely, I will still mention something similar that happened to me. I say unlikely as my finding was on an older vehicle with a bunch of miles on it.
Years back a rubber section of one front brake hose had an internal failure. The failure was such that when brakes were applied they seemed to work OK. But when the brakes were released a "flap" of the internal section of hose prevented all the pressure from being released.
This failure mode meant no brake light was on. But the front brakes had the equivalent of someone "riding the brakes" while essentially no effect on the rear.
It happened over time so I, being super observant (not), never saw any indication. It was only when I went to replace the lines with some stainless hoses that I found the condition. And that was when the hose on the caliper end was loosened and fluid squirted out rather than just the normal sort of line draining. And of course I had to source new front pads.
Years back a rubber section of one front brake hose had an internal failure. The failure was such that when brakes were applied they seemed to work OK. But when the brakes were released a "flap" of the internal section of hose prevented all the pressure from being released.
This failure mode meant no brake light was on. But the front brakes had the equivalent of someone "riding the brakes" while essentially no effect on the rear.
It happened over time so I, being super observant (not), never saw any indication. It was only when I went to replace the lines with some stainless hoses that I found the condition. And that was when the hose on the caliper end was loosened and fluid squirted out rather than just the normal sort of line draining. And of course I had to source new front pads.
- Thread starter
- #6
I don't, but potentially the prior owner of this LX did. But I still don't get how the fronts can need to be replaced with the rears in such relatively good shape. My thought was maybe the brake force distribution logic ( if that makes any sense and even exists in a control module) was/is routinely applying too much to the fronts and not enough to the rears. I agree though that the Lexus dealer is probably best able to answer that question.- Thread starter
- #7
Yikes .... I never heard of that but my assumption is that a Lexus with 15k on it shouldn't have anything crazy like that going on with it. But I realize no mfr is perfect and although I am a bit surprised by the more common issues in the 200 series (radiator hairline crack blow outs, water pumps, etc) I know their frequency is much lower than competing vehicles like Land Rovers.
- Thread starter
- #8
never thought of that
bloc
SILVER Star
For decades toyotas have been very reliable overall, but usually had one or two failure points with each model that seem like terrible design flaws, but in reality are easy to keep track of and address as they come up. Contrast this to other brands that could have any number of system failures.. and you have no idea what is going to come next.
- Thread starter
- #10
Excellent point and why I'm looking for a LX.
from what ive read, 90% of braking is done by the front breaks. thats why the front rotors are usually larger on the front of the car.
My LX needed front brakes by around 40k km. (I bought it at 38k). Pads weren't fully worn out, but had maybe 4mm left.
Stop and go traffic, high speeds and heavy vehicle on mountain roads... that'll do it.
Stop and go traffic, high speeds and heavy vehicle on mountain roads... that'll do it.
My Maserati needs brake pads every 13-14K based on avg driving.
Lx Maybe has defective soft pads?
Lx Maybe has defective soft pads?
bjowett
Supporting Vendor
Possibly the rears were already replaced? What year?
My LC needed rotors at 15k-ish because they were warped. The pads were at 4 mm, which isn't far from needing replacement so I did them too. For me it was slamming on the brakes to avoid an accident on a couple of occasions. That overheated the rotors and warped them. I could tell they were warped because they pulsated at lower speeds and it was getting worse.
From there, I'm guessing, the pads wore more quickly than usual either from having been overheated or from gripping the warped discs. Either way, the brakes did their job when I needed them, and then they needed servicing to be able do their job the next time.
I got over being shocked and upset pretty quickly. Stopping a 3 ton truck as quickly as a sportscar has a price that I'm happy to pay.
From there, I'm guessing, the pads wore more quickly than usual either from having been overheated or from gripping the warped discs. Either way, the brakes did their job when I needed them, and then they needed servicing to be able do their job the next time.
I got over being shocked and upset pretty quickly. Stopping a 3 ton truck as quickly as a sportscar has a price that I'm happy to pay.
bloc
SILVER Star
So this isn’t your truck but one you are looking at? Like in the vehicle service history? (That being clearly explained will help in the future)
It is relatively common to deal with brake pulsation on these, commonly called rotor warp. But not actually rotor warp. I suspect this is from bad driving practices.
Perhaps they just had that condition and threw new brakes on it.
The new cruise control system on the LX at least by 2015 wear brakes because when you’re going down the highway at 70 miles an hour if somebody pulls in front of you the cruise control automatically uses the brakes to slow you down it’s a real brake wear issue I never use Cruise because of that wear issue. There is a way to set the cruise so it doesn’t use the automatic braking. I’ve always got 80 to 100,000 miles out of the brakes on all my 100 and 200 series vehicles.
Interesting. I love radar cruise control and didnt think about it's automatic braking being different than me braking when someone pulls in front of me on the highway.
My biggest brake killer is using the brakes to regulate speed on long declines instead of down shifting. Maybe the radar cruise control kills the brakes on declines.
Radar cruise as implemented on my 200 uses engine braking first and if that is not
up to the task then it applies brakes. Sounds reasonable to me. I seldom see the
icon that brakes are activated but I do keep my standoff distance maxed.
up to the task then it applies brakes. Sounds reasonable to me. I seldom see the
icon that brakes are activated but I do keep my standoff distance maxed.
